[Macworld]

Post your comments for Review: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare here

[Gee4orce]

COD4 has been the only thing played on my XBox360 since it came out last year. Shame the Mac version took so long to arrive, but here it is at last.
I heard that the COD series is developed by alternating teams. The even numbered CODs are generally much better than the odd numbered CODs. So I'm not expecting much from COD5, but COD6 should rock !

[RobK]

I too have been heavily playing this game on my 360 for about a year. The caveat to playing on a Mac is the multiplayer is rendered almost useless by PCers with wallhacks and aimbots.
... and multiplayer is what MAKES the game.

[Dubbalubagis]

RobK said:

... and multiplayer is what MAKES the game.

You hit the nail on the head. That's why PC gaming is declining. The PS3 and Xbox 360 just have better online systems set up to stop hackers and cheaters. First person shooters need multiplayer combat online, otherwise you just get bored with it pointless killing.

[theartist13]

They kept pushing back the release of this game for Mac's and I waited and waited. COD4 really delivers, I've played it through about four times, really great stuff!
Now, I just hope I don't have to wait another two years (or more) for another one!!!!

[RiversideGuy]

No mention in the review that it's Intel only and millions of PPC folks can not participate. So when I get my Intel machine I'll be SURE to buy the winblowz version and NOT the Mac version.

[phillyman]

Hi,

A question regarding download versus physical cd/dvd. I understand why physical is better although why cheaper makes no sense whatsoever. I went to their web site and something struck me as odd...

Is it true that I can only play the downloaded version on that computer? I'm not talking about duplicating and playing on a different system. But that would be the only system ever to run that game? What happens if I need to reinstall or upgrade my computer? Other games which I downloaded from the internet (anything from Ambrosia for example), I can renew my license. This seems fair... The other way seems just plain bizarre (who would ever do something like that?) If I buy it I should be able to transfer it to a different system. What am I missing?

Similar question about the DVD... I could install that version on a different computer, right? Again one computer at a time per license is what I'm talking about...

Thanks for the clarification,

Phillyman

[wardoggie]

Even though I own the PC and PS3 versions, I've been waiting for this game to come out on the mac, just to see how well it translated. Unfortunately, my aging MacBook Pro can't play it. :(
I still give the review -- and the game -- a thumbs up. If you have the hardware to play this game, I highly recommend it. It's the only game I've consistently played for the last 11 months or so.

[HalanR]

Is anyone playing this on a Mac Pro with an ATI 3870? If so, what did you think? Any problems? Thanks!

[Peter Cohen]

RiversideGuy said:

So when I get my Intel machine I'll be SURE to buy the winblowz version and NOT the Mac version.

That's just stupid. That's like saying that when Snow Leopard comes out, you're going to just delete OS X all together and install Vista on your Intel Mac.

Welcome to 2008. The future is Intel. And the future is here. Your PowerPC machine is gathering dust. Save your pennies for a new machine and move along.

And by the way, if you check the sidebar at the top of the review, you'll see that we very clearly state "PROCESSOR COMPATIBILITY" as "Intel only."

[wardoggie]

The system requirements were in the article when I read it. Were they not there when you did? (It's a website, so I'd believe it if they added it after you read the article). Also, do you realize that, according t your scenario, you'd also have to buy "winblowz" in order to play the game? I know you're trying to make a statement. I just don't think it's the statement you THINK you're making ;)

[Peter Cohen]

phillyman said:

Is it true that I can only play the downloaded version on that computer? I'm not talking about duplicating and playing on a different system. But that would be the only system ever to run that game? What happens if I need to reinstall or upgrade my computer? Other games which I downloaded from the internet (anything from Ambrosia for example), I can renew my license. This seems fair... The other way seems just plain bizarre (who would ever do something like that?) If I buy it I should be able to transfer it to a different system. What am I missing?

Similar question about the DVD

The DVD you can install wherever you want. You'll need to have the DVD in the drive when you want to play it, so you're limited to using one machine simply by virtue of the fact that you're only given one disc.

You can certainly burn the download you purchase through GameAgent.com to disc or put it on a backup disc if you'd like it for safekeeping; you'll need the activation code you're given at the time of purchase to use that file. In that respect, downloading a game from GameAgent is just like buying it from Ambrosia or any shareware vendor.

As I understand it, GameAgent enables you to install the game right off the bat on up to two machines. This is a bit different than how Ambrosia and others do it, and it's because they're working with major third-party publishers (like Activision, in this case), and they need to do what they can to protect their publishing partners' intellectual property.

If this seems restrictive, I've talked about it with Glenda Adams, Aspyr's head of development, and she assures me that Aspyr aren't trying to be difficult; if you ran into a tough spot (like you'd gone through three computers, or were just a Mac whore and bought a whole bunch of machines and couldn't decide which Mac you wanted to use), you could call their tech support and they'd reset the activation system for you.

Additionally, Aspyr makes available an additional fee-based service called "EDS" that lets you re-download the file for up to two years from the date of purchase. So if you don't want to or can't archive your download, for some reason, that's another option for you.

Hope this clears some of the mystery up. And thanks for the question, because this is good grist for the mill -- maybe I should do a comparison of different Mac game makers' DRM systems now that digital publishing is all the rage with the "big" guys.

[Peter Cohen]

wardoggie said:

Were they not there when you did? (It's a website, so I'd believe it if they added it after you read the article).

The processor requirements certainly were there. They've been a standard part of our Mac game reviews since Intel-based Macs were introduced. They'll either be listed as "PowerPC," "Intel" or "Universal."

[wardoggie]

IIRC (and wikipedia backs me up on this), COD 3 was developed by someone other than Infinity Ward. As for the next version, I saw trailers for Call of Duty: World at War and it puts us back in WWII. Not sure I'll get it; I dig the modern weapons :)